Display device



April 30, 1929,

H. J. ECHELE ET AL DISPLAY DEVICE Filed March 2l, 1928 s /0 30 3? f F2@ s 36. l M/ 24 m y 24J Patented Apr. 30, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HUBERT J. ECHELE AND EUGENE E. KERN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI; SAID KERN AS- SIGNOR T W'ILLTAM R. ALBERTS, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

DTSPLAY DEVICE,

Application filed March 21, 1928.

This. invention relates to illuminated lsigns and is illustrated herein as embodied in a lamp provided With atranslucent globe, and an illuminating unit adapted to project upon the translucent globe, printed matter or other indicia carried by a screen interposed between the illuminating unit and the globe.

An object of the invention consists in providing an improved light of this character in which the screen interposed between the illuminating unit and the lamp globe rotates constantly, and the image projected upon the globe is distorted during the-rotation of the screen in such a manner as to produce a most unusual yet harmonious elect. A leature of the invention. which leads to the accomplishment ot this objectconsists in forming thelamp globe orn a plurality ot fiat panels so assembled that the globe is polygonaly in cross sectional shape whereby the focus of an image projected from the illuminating unit (Which is located in the center of the globe) changes as the image passes romthe center of one ot the flat panels oi' the globe to a more remote portion, of the panel located adjacent an apex ot the polygonal ligure. As this change in. the locus takes place, the size of the image increases, and then as the image passes irom the remote portion. of the next panel baca: Vto the center et the nent panel, the sii-e oit the `image decreases.

Another feature or" the invention consists in applying reading matter or other' design to the rotary screen and in projecting this reading matter upon the globel in a manner in which it may be most easily read and sharply delined.

Still another feature consists in providing a novel means for use in rotating the screen, which means, as illustrated, comprises an induction'disc motor acting continuously on a plate carried by the screen. rlhe motor is also provided with means which may be regulated to govern and control the speed and the direction ot rotation ot the screen.

Other features and objects of the invention Will become apparent from a reading of the specification in the light ot the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is al view in 'front elevation et one ofthe invented lamps in operation,

serial No. 263,238.

w Fig. 2 is a ver ical section taken along the line 2 2 of Fig. l, i

F ig. 3, is a horizontal section taken along the line 3 3 ot' Fig. 2, and,

Fig. l-, is a diagrammatical view illust-rating the marmer in which the lamp functions.

The reference numeral indicates a hollow base arranged to conceal an electric cord 12, and provided with an annular shoulder le for receiving the lower extremity of the lamp globe. rlhis globe comprises, generally speaking, a lid 16, a joining ring 18, a plurality ot' glass panels 20, a base joining ring 22 and a plurality of side Wall braces, or supports 2e arranged to hold the glass panels in their proper positions vithin the globe.

For the purpose of illuminating the lamp the electric cord 12 leads to a socket 2G which is supported by means oi a bracket 2S and in turn supports a bulb or other illuminating unit 30.

As hereinbetore pointed out the glass panels ot the globe are translucent and there is provided means for projecting a plurality of images upon the panels of the glass. The means for projecting these images comprises rotary screen 32 composed of some suitable material, for example, parchment or celluloid, upon which decorative designs oi' various sorts may be applied. To the end ot rotating the .screen a plate 3l comprising the ln d ot .said screen composed of aluminum or other suitable .material is provided at its central portion 'with a glass cup 36 for engagement by the needle point of a support till, whereby the i'rictional engagement between the support and the screen is materially reduced. An induction coil or .rotor Ll0 depends from a strap 42 and upon being energized, serves to rotate the dish: located thcrc beneath. yt is observed that an adjustable support Lib permits the induction coil to be raised or lowered to vary the speed ot rotation ot the screen in accordance with the proximity of the coil.

As Will be observed Jfrom an inspection en. n Y, j t A I oi figs. i and 2 printed mattei' is applied to the screen in approximately the saine horizontal plane With the filament o' the bulb or illumination unit whereby the image projected by the bulb will be impinged upon the glass panels in a olea-rand sharply defined manner. In this connection it is to be observed that the construction of the lamp globe tends itself greatly to produce a harmonious and pleasing effect as the printed matter is displayed on the exterior of the globe. Thus, the flat panels provide back-grounds for receiving the traveling images of the letters; the braces 24 tend to break the monotony of a constant stream of letters or words; and the provision of a plurality of panels arranged in the manner illustrated permits the printed matter to be read from all sides of the lamp, while enabling one standing directly in front of one of the panels to view the next adjacent panels so that he may read the letters ahead of those appearing on the panel bcfore which he stands as well as those appearing upon the panel behind the one before which he stands.

Turning now to a consideration of Figs. l and 4, it is desired to point out that by virtue of the construct-ion herein illustrated and described the images projected upon the glass panels of the globe are periodically distorted in a way that presents a pleasing appearance. For example, looking at Fig. 4 an examination of the manner in which a decoration a appears from time to time as it is projected upon the translucent panels reveals that the image b is comparatively large when the decoration is projected upon the portion of the panel farthest removed from the source of illumina-tion, and as the image moves near the center of the panel, and approaches ksomewhat the filament of the bulb, it not only becomes smaller and more distinct and sharp, but also it moves upwardly towards the center of the panel, and then downwardly after having passed the center of the anel.

By virtue of t e lamp operating in the above described manner, a screen speckled in appearance and bearing thereon the word Fizz will'present an appearance approximating that illustrated in Fig. kl, wherein the projected images bulgeupwardly at the bottom of each panel, and downwardly at the top of each panel. During the rotation of the screen this tendency on the part o the projected images presents a wavy appearance to one viewing the lamp, which is more pleasing in appearance when it is remembered that the size of each image at the top and bottom of the panels is constantly changing. The use of colors in decorating the screen enhances the attractiveness of the lamp and is contemplated by the present invention.

Having thus described the invention what we claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An illuminated display comprising, in combination, a housing having translucent Wall portions, a source of illumination located within said housing, a rotary screen surrounding the source of' illumination, and an induction disk motor for imparting movement to said screen, said induction disk motor including a plate, a pivot by which said plate is supported for rotary movement and an induction coil for influencing sai plate to cause same to rotate on said pivot, said screen being fixed to said plate in a manner to balance said plate on its pivot.

2. An illumina-ted display comprising, in combination, a housing having translucent wall portions, a source of illumination l0- cated within said housing, a rotary screen surrounding the source of illumination, and an induction disk motor for imparting movement to said screen, said induction disk motor including a plate, a pivot by which Said plate is supported for rotary movement, and an induction coil for influencing said plate to cause same to rotate on said pivot, said screen being fixed to said plate'and being arranged in depending relation with respect thereto and to said pivot so as to balance said plate during movement thereof on said pivot.

3. An illuminated display comprising, in combination, a housing having translucent wall portions, a source of illumination located within'said housing, a rotary screen surrounding the source of illumination, and an induction disk motor for imparting movement to said screen, said induction disk motor including a plate, a pivot on which said plate rotatably rests andan induction coil for influencing said plate to cause same to rotate on said pivot, said screen being xed to said plate and being arranged in depending relation with respect thereto and to said pivot so as to balance said plate during movement thereof on said pivot.

4. An illuminated display device comprising, in combination, a housing having translucent wall portions, a source of illumination located within said housing, a rotary screen surrounding the source of illumination, an induction disk motor for imparting movement to said screen, said induction disk motor including a plate, a pivot by which said plate is supported for rotary movement, and an induction coil for influencing said plate to cause same to rotate on said pivot, said screen being fixed to said plate in a manner to balance said plate on its pivot, and means providing for the adjustment of said induction coil with respect to said plate.

5. In a display apparatus, the combination of a source of illumination, a rotary light emitting display screen surrounding the sourcel of illumination, and an induction disk motor including a plate forming a fulcrum head for the screen, said motor being next to and acting directly upon the screen for impart-ing rotary motion thereto.

llO

G. An illuminated display, comprising, in Combination, a housing having translucent Wall portions,y a source of illumination located Within Said housing, a rotary screen surrounding the source of illumination, and an induction disk motor acting directly upon said screen for imparting motion thereto, said induction disk motor including a plate forming the fulcrum head of said screen and directly carried thereby, and an 10 induction coil for influencing said plate, whereby rotary movement 1s imparted thereto.

In testimony that We claim the foregoing we hereunto affix our signatures.

HUBERT J. ECHELE. EUGENE E. KERN. 

